As a foreground for Nic Linza's
comments, and reviews of the book,
"PRINCIPLES OF ROMAN
ARCHITECTURE", we should first mention:
In
Rome, philosophy, the arts, judicial, military strategy, and engineering
flourished.
Additionally,
ancient Roman architect theorist, Vitruvius strongly advocated
the first known principles of architecture, commonly used
by prominent architects of that time, that he insisted were essential
to any good architecture: Commodity, Firmness and Delight, known today
as Function, Structure, and Aesthetics.
This
formula still holds true today.
The Roman principles were not only fundamentally sound, and aesthetically pleasing, but they were especially embraced by America, because they also symbolized the republican form of government.
The Italian Rinascimento and Neo Classicalism both used the Roman principles as their foundation.
The
Romans did not stop with merely the structure of great buildings, but devised,
experimented with, revised, and codified their principles and methods of
urban planning. Good urban planning universally also adheres to
Roman civic principles.
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Preface
and Recommendation by Nicola Giacomo A. G. Linza
The
Romans were pioneers in applying numerous unique theories of architectural
design and engineering principles to so many new facets of construction
(roads, aqueducts, sewers, buildings etc.) that they achieved an unsurpassed
level of brilliance in advancing all areas of construction in ways no longer
possible today.
A
perfect example is the Roman use of the arch.
If some scholars claim the Sumerian's invented the notion of the arch, then it is without dispute that Roman civilization gave the arch its supreme value and importance in architectural structure and style. It is the Roman arch that is the semicircular structure we recognize today when one thinks of an arch. Because of its brilliant design and use by the Romans it is their arch that allows for feats of engineering and building construction design that previous elements didn't allow.
The Roman arch serves a dual purpose, it gives strength and aesthetic quality simultaneously bringing Roman building to a level not seen in Greece. The ancient Greeks designed their temples with colonnaded porticoes and the spaces between their columns bridged by flat lintels forming the base of their architrave.
The Romans used their arch to advance the art. Around the Roman temples they used similar construction techniques but far surpassed the Greeks in design by inventing the use of the arch as a stronger form in design aesthetics and construction quality.
The world owes a great debt to the principles of the Romans for contributing greatly to the five orders of classical architecture (RAA: basically columns).
The Roman's applied principles and discoveries to numerous architectural orders beyond anything seen then, or since.
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PRINCIPLES
OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
by
Mark Wilson Jones
Won
the 2002 Alice Davis Hitchcock Medallion
Won
the 2001 Sir Banister Fletcher Award
The architects of ancient Rome developed a vibrant and enduring tradition, inspiring those who followed in their profession even to the present day. This original book is the first to explore their approach to design. Mark Wilson Jones draws on both new archaeological discoveries and his own analyzes of the monuments to reveal how Roman architects went about the creative process.
Wilson Jones begins by outlining the state of knowledge regarding Roman architects, Vitruvius in particular, as well as the dynamics of design as illuminated by surviving architectural drawings and models. Then, in a series of thematic chapters dedicated to the plan, the elevation, and the principal distributive element of Roman buildings, the Corinthian column, he focuses on underlying patterns of design that transcend function and typology.
The success of Roman architecture is shown to rest on a robust yet subtle synthesis of theory, beauty, content, and practicality. At the same time, it maintains a vital equilibrium between the apparently conflicting goals of rule and variety.
The next part of the book focuses on two singularly enigmatic monuments, Trajan’s Column and the Pantheon, to illustrate how architects might bend principles to circumstance.
The
author resolves long-standing controversies over their conception, showing
how both structures came to be modified after work on the site had begun.
Even the Romans’ mighty building machine had to come to terms with the
gap between ideals and the physical realities of construction.
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Reviews
In this original book Mark Wilson-Jones explores for the first time how the architects of ancient Rome approached design. Drawing on new archaeological discoveries and his own analyses of Roman monuments, the author discusses how the ancient architects dealt with the principles of architecture and the practicalities of construction as they engaged in the creative process.
“Wilson Jones’s excellent work combines the knowledge of a practicing architect with that of an architectural historian. . . . [I]ts clear style of writing makes it accessible to the nonspecialist. It is especially recommended to those interested in architectural history and/or studying to become architects.”--J. Pollini, Choice“
[A] careful, sensible and delightful consideration of all aspects of building in ancient Rome that will provide new insights for young and old scholars alike.”--Carol Richardson, Art Book“
This is an important work which throws new light on a number of aspects of Roman construction. It is well illustrated by the author’s own drawings, by reproductions from classical works on the subject, and by excellent colour photographs.”--Architectural Science Review“
In a gorgeously illustrated book the architect Mark Wilson Jones presents a new, vivid and carefully documented appreciation of Roman Imperial design as a skilled creative process. . . . Wilson Jones has provided a model of how to use beautiful drawing as a tool of scholarly analysis and exegesis; many of the drawings are his own, and his choice of others is excellent. . . . The book not only presents convincing new interpretations but will stimulate new discussions and lines of research.”--Thomas Noble Howe, Journal of Roman Archaeology
"This is by far the best book on ancient architecture written in the last few decades, suitable both for those who think they know the field, and for those who are looking for an introduction to Roman architecture. . . . [Should] be a set text for an archaeology or art history course--there are insufficient synonyms of the word 'brilliant' to describe it."--Dorothy King, Minerva Magazine
Mark Wilson Jones is an architect in private practice and an architectural historian. He has studied numerous Roman sites around the Mediterranean and published a series of groundbreaking articles on ancient buildings.
Mark
Wilson Jones